Vehicle wheel



Aug. 29, 1950 c, PATON 2,520,560

VEHICLE WHEEL Filed Oct. 5, 1946 CLYDE R. PATON INVENTOR.

J BY MM ATTORNEYS .form a compression bond.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES. PATENT. or ies- 7 2,520,566" j VEI I ICLE WiiiE EL M Clyde R. Paton, Bloomfield Villag,. Mich.-" Application October 5, 1946, am No. io 1,4i23

8 Claims. (01. 152-144) This invention relates generally to vehicle wheels, and more particularly to vehicle wheels of the type in which the wheel disc is insulated from the wheel rim. d An object of the present invention is'to Drocarried by the rubber vide a vehicle wheel in which the wheel disc and the wheel rim are spaced from each other so that there is no metal to metal contact,jand which are connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient elements which provide the duel function of joining the disc to the rim and of insulating the disc from the rim. Road irregularities encountered by the carcasses of tires which are rotating at high speeds set up vibrations which normally are transmitted through the wheel to the axle, suspension springs, vehicle frame, andfinally to the vehicle body. Such vibrations are objectionable since they cause increased wear and strain upon the various parts of the vehicle and since they also result in noises annoying to the occupants of the vehicle.

The vehicle body, being composed of large panels, of relatively thin sheet metal, acts as a sounding board when subjected to the vibrations men- L tioned above, Although present in all vehicles, these body vibrations are intensified in vehicles of the type in which the. frame andbody are integrally formed as a unit. In other types of vehiclearubber pucks are generally used between the body and the frame and function to limit the transmission of vibration therebetween. I'his insulation, however, is not completely .efiective, since it is located at substantial distances from the wheels, and since the most effective place to stop such vibrations is closely adjacent its source.

The above-mentioned disadvantages of present constructions are overcome by the present invention in which the Wheel disc is completely insulated fromthe wheel rim by means of a plurality of angularly spaced resilient elements, such as rubber blocks, which are interposed between the disc and rim and which form the sole connection therebetween. Inasmuch as this insulation is located as close as mechanically possible to the source of the vibrations, it is extremely effective in stopping such vibrations and preventing their transmittal to the various vehicle partsand to the vehicle body. The rubber blocks can be either cemented to the wheel disc and wheel rim or can be placed therebetween under compression to In addition, the arrangement is such that the radial load upon the wheel resulting irom the weight of the vehicle is I elements, and the driving and braking torque are transmitted between the wheel disc and the wheel rim by the rubber elements. I It is a further object of the'invention to provide theconstruction mentioned above without ma teriall'y' changing the construction of the wheel rimjand with a minimum amount of change in the wheel disc. .Asa result, the structure is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.- ,Another' object of the invention is to provide a vehicle wheel in which the wheel disc is insulated from the wheel rim by rubber elements, and in which the insulating rubber elements are locatedjata miximum radius from the center of the wheel so that the unit loading of the rubber is relatively low. Stillanother object is to provide a construction suchas mentioned above in which the insulating elements are positioned in aligned depressions formed in the wheel disc and in the wheel rim so that the driving and braking torque can be transmitted between the disc and the rim. The resilient elements on opposite sides of the rim may be staggered circumferentially with respect to each other so as to minimize the reductionin width of the well of a drop center type rim and to prevent material interference'with the use'Of the wellin assembling and disassembling the tire from the'rim.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be made moreapparent as this description proceeds, particularly when conside'redin connection with the accompanying drawings,- in which: j

Figure 1 is 'a side elevational view, partly broken'away and in section, of a vehicle wheel embodying the present'invention.

Figures 2' and 3 are cross sectional views taken substantially onthe planes indicated by the lines 2-2 and 3- -3 respectively of Figure 1.

Eigure 4 is across sectional view taken'substantially on the plane indicated by the 1ine-4--4 of Figure3. I Figure 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating a modification. Figure 6 is across sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by theline 6-6 of Figured 7 Referring now'to the drawings, and particul'arlyto the form of the invention shown in' Figures '1 to 4 inclusive, the reference character ll indicates a wheel rim of the, drop center typeencircling, a wheel disc 12 preferably of the pressed st e We T F re m has h e a! V the tire carcass through the vehicleg -wheel to 'they V b sedee he ml-ands her n u ar rtions ,zsqmewhat h ckerthan thebasenortlorrza; outboard side flanges 3| are seated in alignedwell which comprises the base l3 and the side walls l4. Radially outwardly of the side walls I4 are the tire supporting flanges l6 and the tire retaining beads I1.

' The wheel disc l2 comprises a dished body portion l8 which is apertured to provide access to the wheel bolts, the aperture being closed by the hub cap I9. Adjacent its outer periphery the body portiomlfl of;-the wheel di0i1b8tflfltlfljdr 1y to form an axially extending annular; portion 2| extending parallel to and spaced radially inwardly from the base I3 of the rim. The wheels r disc then continues into an outwardly illgliggg side flange; 22 which extends generally parallel to the side wall M of the rim, being spacedgthere 15. from in an outboard direction A retaining ring 23 is provided on the inboard-side of-the wheeldisc l2 and is formed with a radial flgpg dl;

which may be bolted, riveted, spot welded, proiectiau w l ed.. ssqtherw sasiut blu secured to l ady pr-tioug -dthe wli isai/jlicltspr eta hable-means; amused 1U; des red to removably connect the retainingring 23; to

hawhe l di c a-fac 1ita e..future maintenan repair-- nasmu h. however. aa' hle lQ lQle wheel 'Qthe pr sentnvention so: stur x; er.- manent fi ons n stibmi tis eili iem ellkunlilgely that anye airs l s au gessara ren ai er, ertndsd use, and zconseguently the.retainins. inefian fi permanent y t shed. o sw e l ,di cbyrw l ingg r veti a, en the l-admnfie a Q w l t e in a-thedncthatxthe qutbnardl ac wheel nas no marredtby rimt Qr qlttheads ex e din he e r m; The retainin ing}; also hawnaxially-extending. nnulali p rl un 25a ex: tending parallel to and spaced radia I irqm thebase Islot-the.rim andani cliiiedlsi damsel-1.; ext n in p ra le o; h V. ide mail, 14 came-rim. and na eq flie ietrom a ns cbnard direction, 7 40 tw lilba-sem rom th qreseiuade er fim ha hee-cons ruction.-. iet e.wheel dificr issphe eta n n in ldissuchn gm;emhra etherer between-the wella crtionoit hesdmncenterrimlurthermqra le rauca s,u oridsdsa 1 bet en hej mand-thewhes disc 59.1 11, r

e. 1 me aln q rue al, ontact hiclr-would esultantizanssnittina m tations.emanatin in 1;,- ,7, Y, p msqi-rubb s dis-li rs inte nssed stween the'wheel rim and the wheel disc. Therubber 1 e acede rqm each ome nircumi etie lye omp telw Quad hawh dand ti o fi lyiusulat a hewh elzd sc,frsm he whee s-1m In ad it on...thermocksmtanlymqer y herweisht r} oede t,thei ehit abut als serv to transmit1the -d ir na-andshra inei orque ue nf hewheel disaandma h e im- Bash; ubber? blQ kzaahas a; flatlbasesnqrtion 29 interposed in'the clearance space betweenthe fh qledisci from tne .irim-;. Ertend sesm a J ieclially outw rdluf rom the qp u lit .sid s fu-the 'ih srgnti n ifl' feeach u enbmckfi r apair 2 are pre rab y. a thou h no ecessarilr,

depressions 33 and 34 formed respectively in the outboard side wall [4 of th rim and the side flange 22 of the wheel disc. These depressions have a circumferential dimension corresponding to the length of the rubber blocks and, as best seen in Figure 4, form pockets for receiving the side flanges 3i of the blocks. The shoulders 36 and 31 thus formed in the wheel rim and wheel discrespegtivelwat opposite ends. OLthe depressions 3 3 and ,3 6 l eQDl Q l en s o fi e ber blocks 28 and enable the driving and braking torque to be transmitted between the wheel disc and tl e wheel rim through the rubber blocks.

Insimilar fashionydepressions 38 and 39 are termed in-the inboard side wall I of the rim and a the side flange 2'! of the retaining ring 23 re- 'E ci ab y. e; u r:- blvcks ar l d unde com ress on. d in h ss lyf e wheel the compression band together; with the depressions the wheel rim; and the wheel-* diso being sjufligie'nt to retain the rubber blocks in pcsitiou. If d sire -.5 ho v the b k'sr h:

cems t dl cthad sc azimuths rim. The present inyention;should;not- -be-confused with the large class'ofigprior art knownas resilient wheels. Resilientwheels" are designed forthe purpose of augmenting qr eliminating-theusual suspension system of a vehicle. The-present -inventiqlih, 0n,the other hand, is designed for -the nurppse oi re eutinst e an m s n to the Chassis. and bod flivibrati ns -orig l in -f th ire. l es ibration a otr h m e itilde. hat,v needjb l in d fe ned or the purn se j m zr v n the i nm r W the {vehicle and; the comfort-of "the passengers, 1112.1a,12 smal amasu d a m s s fl iientlrg h h;frequency; o' setun br sw h whentr smitted'tq' he veh lea e h y pg} els produce objectionable vibrations and noises, The,structure described in thisapplieation ha s particularly designed to correct this ,de ectim o inar e icle s n is entirely foreign to the suspension systemuof the vehicle.

A, modificationoitheinventi'on is shown iii-Figures Sandfi: n w ish't e n a n -mean tween the. hesldise ndgtha wheelirimwmprise a plurality o f angularly spaced rubber blocks interpp sedgbetween the side walls of the rinrand E; the bloclgspn opposite sides of the rim being st aggered with respect' to each other." The wheel rim, dfifof -the modification is-g eneral1y-the 'same in constructionas-th'e wheehfim H shown ufiegresli q nclusiraihe single e c p i heina hat L h de re sions. ndsin-the board side wall 49"and 'the inboardside wall: 51 0f the are staggered with respectto each 'other in a circumferential" direction.- With this arrangement'the decrease in the width of thewell 5t of? the drop center-'"rirnadjacent the de- :p sssions lan ffli di m m=- The wheel disc 53'and the-retainingring 54ers also generally "similar to the taining ring of the principal tion, except that in this case wheel discand reform of the inveifithe depressions and 51 in the outboard side flange 58 of the wheel disc53 and the inboard side flange 59 of the retaining ring 54 respectively are ofiset with respect to each other in a circumferential direction and are arranged in axial alignment with the depressions 4'! and 48 formed in the wheelrim. The aligned depressions thus form pockets for receiving the rubber blocks 6| which are assembled therein under compression, or which, if desired, may be cemented therein.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the side flanges 58 and 59 of the wheel disc 53 and retaining ring 54 respectively are formed with radially inner and outer shoulders 62 and 63 at opposite extremities of the depressions 56 and 51. These shoulders engage opposite end walls of the rubber blocks BI and prevent radial displacement of the latter. Inasmuch as the blocks 51 are set at an angle they carry the radial load or weight of the vehicle as well as transmit the driving and braking torque between the wheel disc and the wheel rim. Furthermore, as they form the sole connection between the disc and rim, all metal to metal contact is eliminated and the wheel disc is effectively insulated from the rim.

In both forms of the invention shown in the drawings and described above, it will be seen that the wheel disc is insulated from the wheel rim in zones having a maximum radius and as close as possible to the source of the vibrations. Thus. not only are the rubber blocks so located so as to most effectively eliminate the transmission of vibrations to the chassis and body, but the unit loading of the rubber is relatively low.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel rim retainer, a wheel rim encircling said retainer and spaced therefrom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally U-shaped rubber elements intermediate said retainer and said rim, the base of each of said U-shaped rubber elements being disposed generally axially and arranged to carry the radial load upon said wheel in compression, and the side flanges of said U- shaped rubber elements being disposed generally radially and seated within depressions formed in said retainer and said rim to transmit driving and braking torque therebetween.

2. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a, wheel rim of the drop center type, a rim retainer provided at its periphery with relatively outwardly flaring side flanges embracing the well of said drop center rim, said retainer and said rim being spaced from each other, a, plurality of displaced nonapertured rubber elements intermediate said outer portions of the retainer and the well of said wheel rim, said rubber elements forming the sole connection between said retainer and said rim and beingarranged to transmit driving and braking torque therebetween and retainers on said flaring side flanges engaging and restraining said rubber elements against circumferential movement relative thereto.

3. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel rim of the drop center type having a well comprising an axially extending base and inclined 6 sidewalls-extending outwardly from said base and forming obtuse angles with the axis o'i-said wheel; a rim retainer provided with an axially extending annular portion spaced-radially inwardly from the base of said rim and outwardly inclined side flanges spaced axially outwardly from the side walls of said rim and forming obtuse angles with the axis of said wheel, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient elements intermediate the side walls of saidrim and the adjacent side flanges of said rim retainer held under both shear and compression forces thereby, said resilient elements providing the sole connections between said rim retainer and said rim and insulating said retainer and said rim from each other. 1. v

4. In a' vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel rim of the drop center type, a rim retainer provided at its periphery with portions embracing the well of said drop center rim, said retainer and said rim being spaced from each other, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally U-shaped rubber members intermediate said peripheral portions of the rim retainer and the well of said wheel rim, each of said U-shaped rubber members having its base interposed between the base of said drop center rim and the adjacent portion of said rim retainer and having its generally radially outwardly extending flanges interposed between the side walls of the well of said drop center rim and the adjacent portions of said rim retainer.

5. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel rim of the drop center type, a rim retaine provided at its periphery with portions embracing the well of said drop center rim, said retainer and said rim being spaced from each other, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rubber blocks interposed between the side walls of the well of said drop center rim and the adjacent walls of said rim retainer, the blocks on opposite sides of said rim being staggered circumferentially with respect to each other and being seated in aligned depressions formed in the adjacent walls of said rim and rim retainer to form driving connections therebetween.

6. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel rim of the drop center type having a well comprising an axially extending base and inclined side walls extending from said base, a rim retainer provided with an axially extending annular portion spaced from the base of said rim and outwardly inclined side flanges spaced from the side walls of said rim, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rubber blocks seated in aligned depressions formed in the side walls of said drop center rim and the adjacent side flanges of said rim retainer, the rubber blocks on opposite sides of said rim being staggered circumferentially with respect to each other completely around the circumference of said rim and providing the sole connections between said rim and said rim retainer and insulating said rim and said rim retainer from each other.

7. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel I rim of the drop center type having a well comprising an axially extending base and inclined side walls extending from said base, a rim retainer provided with an axially extending annular portion spaced from the base of said rim and outwardly inclined side flanges spaced from the side walls of said rim, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally U-shaped rubber blocks, each of said rubber blocks having a base portion interposed between the base of said drop center bibcksefmmin ztha principal;torquewransmittin means; between; said? rim: neta-inen and-maid? lnzazvehicle wheekin aombinationmwaenek .allyrchannel shaipedgWheekrim havin omwandly flaring? side;fi nges,-. a! enerally) chann l. shamed nimmtainer coaxiali with: saidiwheelz rim and spa admradiallw inwar lw'thfirafrom s id g im retainer having outwardly flaring; sideflanges mitbia'l'ly embmcm a said! channel; shanecb, wheel ohannekshapedmimn ,mm -gnd dis planed resilient cushioning; means under, bqth sheam andzcompressionyfbnces between the; opmsedisurfaces-r. of: the outwandly. flaring flanges; of: said channel shapedretainer, and said CLYDE. R PAZEONI,

I, REFERENCES CITED" v V The following refinances: are of! recordi im th file of? this: pament: V

-' UNI'IEI)STATESPATiil ls Number Name D'at'e,

445,822 Hall. Man. 10,1 891 1,542,943: Josephson. J fine, 23; 1925 1,554,565- Wagenhorst, J an 3., 1928 234 3125 Eerro. F .May 20;;1341 

